Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-03-09
Forecast for the Week Ending March 9Th,
1887.

Forecast IOr the week EnuiHS MdrCH Jth,
1887.
TUESDAY, 1sT-Brilliant-fne and cold.
WEDNESDAY, 2ND-Changeable; cloud
ing.
THURSDAY, 3RD.-Cloudy; gloomy; snow.
FRIDAY, 4TH-Stormy; snow or rain.
SATURDAY, 5TH-Westerly winds; clear
ing.
SUNDAY, 6TH-Pleasant; calm.
MONDAY, 7rH-Southerly winds; va7ia-.
BILE.
TUESDAY, 8TH-Fine day; warmer.
WEDNESDAY, 9TH-Mild; changeable;
gusty.
made the meteorology of this part of the
State special study, and on the above dali
ly forecast he desires to put to the test his
reputation as a weather calculator by a sys
tenn of natural law, which when once orked
up and fully elucidated promises to become
one of the methods for foretelling the char
acter of the weather for any given date
ahead.
This being true, it is scarcely necessary
to state that he who works by system and
the science of natural law, does not pose as
"guesser" or even as prophet. The
student who takes hold of so vast and in
tricate problem as weather science, with
the honest will to benefit his fellow-man
must necessarily base all his calculations on
the solid ground of nature if he wishes to
follow the sure road to success.
The meteorologist knowing that nearly
all cur weather changes travel round the
globe from west to east at the average rate
of 80 miles per hour, it is only upon this
| average that the forecast can be based at
present.
A storm energy travelling at a lower rate
of speed than this will be due at given
point from to 10 hours after the time set
| for its appearance, and Vire Uersa when
moving faster than 30 miles per hour.
L. J. HEATwoLE,
Meteorologist, Dale Enterprise, Va.
Feb. 28th, 1887.
1t will be remembered that last year we
showed that the forecasts of the weather as
given in Walter H. Smiths Planetary AL
manac and Weather Guide, based upon the
science so-called of Astro- meteorology, of
which our friend L. J. Heatwole, of Dale
Enterprise, Rockingham county, is loyal
disciple, were unreliable-the weather here
not being as thus forecasted. The obser
vations of Mr.. Heatwole also established
this fact, and he wrote to Smith about it,
telling him that the weather predicted did
not occur till some days after, and Smith
replied by saying that his calculations that
year were made for the latitude of Cana
da, and that similar weather here was few
days later than there, and that this year he
would calculate also for this latitude.
Whether or not this explanation satisfied
Mr.. Heatwole we do not know, but, as will
be seen from bis card above, he has entered
upon the task of making the calculations
| for this latitude himself, basing them upon
| the same theory of astro-meteorology His
calculations may be correct, but as the
| theory is false, the result of his calculations
must lie erroneous, and his forecasts of the
weather unreliable. We give above his
| forecasts for last week, and we give below
what the weather really was, SO that our
readers may compare the one with the
other, and, as ''he desires, put to the test
L q
| system Of natural law"
| Our observations of the weather were as
follows
| Tuesday,, 1st-Bright and mila-not at
all cold.
| "Wednesday, 2nd.-Calm and warm, al
most like Summer.
| Thursday, 3rd-Stll warm. -thermome-
ter at IS degrees-no snow, Of coarse, at
that temperature.
| Friday, 4M.-Ne snow-rain in the early
morning, and very cloudy throughout Che
day.
| Saturday, 5h.-Eariy in the morning
snow fell to the depth af 1 inches. Dur
| ing most of the day after, there was a
slight, cold rain or mist, which was pro-
baby snow in the upper cold STRATA of air
which melted as it fell into the lower aud
warmer strata.
Sunday, 9Th. Bright in the morning.
Not very cold. By II o'clock the sky was
prevent the sun from shining through =
good portion OF the time. Thermometer at
aoon between so or 60 degrees. In the
afternoon 65 degrees with bright sunshine.
| Wind South west. Continued warm and at
10 o'clock at night the uerclry registered
| IS degrees. Score enc for Heatwole f,r
Sunday, which was pheasant; calm"
| Monday, 7h.--Rain in the early morn
ing. Suspension till II O'Clock when il
again commenced raining aud continued
more less throughout the day.
Tuesday, 8h.-Bright and warm Score
| another day for Heatwole.